Bread making apparatus

• US 5,628,240 A
• Filed: 08/09/1996
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoshida, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US08/694,626
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 99/325-333, 99/337, 99/338, 99/348, 99/352-355, 99/467, 99/468, 99/483, 99/484, 99/486, 366/69, 366/96-98, 366/144-147, 366/601, 366/314, 426/504, 426/512, 364/143, 364/400, 364/146, 364/188, 364/477, 364/192, 364/557, 219/492
• US Class Current: 99/326
• CPC Class Codes: A21B 7/005 in combination with mixing or kneading devices

Abstract

A bread baking apparatus makes dough by kneading raw ingredients tossed into a bread baking case installed in an oven, and baking after fermentation. The object of this invention is to conveniently provide attractive-appearing bread having a specified expanded volume and a prespecified color when baked. Namely, in order to prevent undesirable results, such as expanding more or less than specified in the fermenting process, or being affected by external room temperature and humidity which has penetrated the oven through a glass lid installed on the baking oven, this apparatus is provided with means for detecting fermenting conditions while fermenting, and means for extending the fermenting process time. This apparatus is further provided with baking timer means for defining the color of the final baked product by applying temperature measuring means. Furthermore, air ventilating and heating means, especially uniform heating means during baking are provided in this apparatus to prevent unwanted changes in the baking bread.

Claims

1. A bread making apparatus including means for performing a bread making process comprising at least a final proofing process for fermenting formed bread dough over a preset final proofing time period, and a baking process for baking the formed and fermented bread dough following said final proofing time period, said bread making apparatus comprising:

operation key means;

control means responsive to activation of said operation key means for extending the preset final proofing time period by a predetermined extended time period upon activation of said operation key means during an activation time period starting at the earliest at the beginning of the final proofing process and ending at the latest at the beginning of the baking process.

3. A bread making apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, said control means also including means for responding during a cancellation period to a signal generated by activation of said operation key means to cancel any extended final proofing time period previously set during said activation time period, said cancellation period corresponding to said activation period and any predetermined extended time period.

4. The bread making apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said predetermined extended time period is determined in accordance with the number of sequential times said operation key means is activated.

5. The bread making apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said control means includes means responsive to sequential activation of said operation key means to cancel any extended final proofing time period.

6. The bread making apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said bread making apparatus also includes apparatus for performing a mixing process for mixing bread ingredients to make bread dough and a fermenting process for fermenting the bread dough prior to said final proofing process.

7. The bread making apparatus according to claim 4, said control means also including means for responding during a cancellation period to a signal generated by activation of said operation key means to cancel any extended final proofing time period previously set during said activation time period, said cancellation period corresponding to said activation period and any predetermined extended time period.

8. The bread making apparatus according to claim 5, said control means also including means for responding during a cancellation period to a signal generated by activation of said operation key means to cancel any extended final proofing time period previously set during said activation time period, said cancellation period corresponding to said activation period and any predetermined extended time period.

2. A bread making apparatus including means for performing a bread making process comprising at least a final proofing process for fermenting formed bread dough over a preset final proofing time period, and a baking process for baking the formed and fermented bread dough following said final proofing time period, said bread making apparatus comprising:

operation key means;

control means responsive to activation of said operation key means for extending the preset final proofing time period by a predetermined extended time period upon activation of said operation key means during an activation time period starting at the earliest at the beginning of the bread making process and ending at the beginning of the final proofing process.